What we learned from the Senior A Hurling and Football finals in Cork

Erin’s Own brushed off the early loss of star forward Robbie O’Flynn to emerge five-point victors over neighbours Carrigtowhill in the Senior A Hurling final on Sunday, which ensures they will dine at the top table of Cork club hurling in 2027.

Carrigtwohill took all of 13 minutes to register their first score from play, when Justin Oke slotted over, but by the 22nd minute, they had levelled proceedings, when James Mulcahy pointed his fifth score of the day to make it 0-9 to 1-6.

Two frees from Oran O’Regan, a monster from downtown, and Conor Lenihan, gave Erin’s Own a two-point buffer only for Matthew Barrett to land a huge free of his own into the City End to ensure there was only one in it at the break.

Considering Erin’s Own had bagged an early goal from Maurice O’Carroll and that their talisman attacker Robbie O’Flynn had to retire early due to injury, Carrigtwohill would have gone into the dressing room delighted with how the first half an hour had gone.

The game was there for them but they will be disappointed their shooting deserted them at a crucial time, as they were guilty of some costly misses in the second half.

Given O’Flynn’s absence, the Caherlag club needed others to step up, and Matt O’Riordan certainly did so, as he impressively struck over five crisp points for the cause, with his fourth one on the 52nd minute being the pick of the bunch. Finn O’Brien was starved of possession for long periods, but anytime he got the ball into his hand, he frightened his neighbouring club with his directness and pace, while veteran Maurice O’Carroll provided great leadership and work-rate in leading from the front.

The half-back line of Cian Dunphy, Oran O’Regan and Cormac Dooley were impressive throughout, always driving their team forward and they proved to be Erin’s Own’s launching pad to victory.

Mean

Erin’s Own had not conceded a single goal in this year’s championship and as the clock ticked past the 45-minute mark it felt like Carrigtwohill needed to break that trend if they were going to wrestle back control, and unfortunately for them they could not find a way.

Erin’s Own were terribly disappointed to have been relegated in a thriller of a relegation play-off against Newtownshandrum last year. It was important for a club who have regularly featured in the knockout stages in recent years to go straight back up and they did so impressively, winning all of their five games comfortably. 

They proved that they definitely belong back up in the Premier Senior grade.

Carrigtwohill will undoubtedly be disappointed to have lost but they can be incredibly proud of their efforts as many pundits completely wrote off their chances in their year’s championship when star forward Sean Walsh suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier in the year.

They will have Sean back next year to bolster an attacking unit that has really kicked on in his absence this year, while the Walsh clan should be further represented by the addition of 2025 Cork minor midfielder Tom to their middle eight options.

In 2027 it is possible that we will see Erin’s Own face off against this year’s Premier Senior semi-finalists Kanturk, and it was the Duhallow men who were to the fore in the Senior A football decider as they got the better of Éire Óg in a tense decider, earlier on Sunday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kanturk have enjoyed a huge year in both codes. They were a whisker away from reaching the hurling decider, when losing to a late St Finbarr’s power surge, and conversely, they needed everything to go their way late on in the football semi-final against Carbery Rangers.

Balancing act

You win some and you lose some, and thankfully for them they were deserving winners on Sunday and they will now get to see how they juggle being a proud dual Premier Senior club next year.

They drew two of their group games against Dohenys and Aghabullogue but rode the wave of their impressive hurling campaign to get past Kilshannig and Carbery Rangers, before just having too much for Muskerry side Éire Óg on Sunday.

They were led by their inter-county stars Paul and Tommy, with Paul kicking the game’s only goal in the first half, as well as two other crucial points, while Tommy slotted a superb two-pointer late on when the game was well and truly in the melting pot, with the scores locked at 1-9 to 0-12.

Colm O’Callaghan did his best to rescue the game for his side but Paul Walsh, with his last score, and super sub Ian Walsh, with a quality two-pointer, ensured it was going to be Kanturk’s day.